X-Men!
Published: 14th June 2007
Author: Stevie Mills Photo by Sutty
Travis and the boys storm Slane Castle and leave our man in the Emerald Isle overcome with excitement
Awesome doesn't even come close to describing Red Bull X-Fighters at Slane Castle. At the grand old age of 200 I'm really not that easily impressed and I thought I was acting pretty cool until I realised I was screaming like a teenage girl at a Take That gig!
Travis and the boys simply blew gravity apart and all the riders performed exceptionally well, throwing out routines that left the 25,000 plus crowd gasping for more of the same. What I will always remember from that night was the way Travis attacked the track, racing from ramp to ramp and clicking off two or three tricks per jump. Even when he was on the ground he was pulling wheelies front and back!
And how cool was this? Travis and crew even got to ride Desertmartin on the Tuesday after the show at Slane. The word is that Travis said it was one of the best tracks he'd ever ridden - sure, what would he know anyway?
British championship news now. With the series at the halfway point things are not looking as strong as they could for Gordon who is fifth in the standings, 36 points off Billy Mac who's in pretty hot form after winning the Japanese GP. But only nine points separate second to fifth so GC could still play leapfrog up the table - especially with the next round coming at Desertmartin on June 23.
The Cookstown spectacular will arguably be the most important race of 2007 for GC and if he's to win British title number four he needs to capitalize on the overwhelming support that he'll receive from his adoring Irish fans. Gordon always races to win and for my money he'll be the man to beat. Yes, Big Ken rides well there and Billy Mac rates the Desert as one of his favourite tracks but Desertmartin always brings out the best in all the Irish riders.
In the star-studded MX2 class Martin Barr is a pretty lonely seventh at the moment but expect to see him turn in his best British champs performance to date at Desertmartin. Martin is capable of a top five finish and, to be honest, if he gets away at the start he may just surprise everyone. On the local front Tommy Merton, Wayne Garrett and Mike Sinton - who all scored points last year - will have another run out, as will Stuart Edmonds who has taken points at two of the UK rounds.
Domestic news next and the Tommy and Wayne Show continues to make the main headlines at Ulster and Irish championship events. Two rounds into the Irish National series and Wayne Garrett's Moto-One/Intouch KTM heads the leaderboard from Merton with young Gary Gibson causing a stir among the established contenders by filling out the top three.
In the MX2 class the young guns are in control of the premier positions with 15-year-old Graeme Irwin the discovery of the season so far. Second place man Luke Wilde has the speed to win races if he can get fit and keep upright - Luke will win an Irish championship moto before the summer's gone. With a DNF at Cork City, Wayne is third in the series having won all three motos he's finished.
In the Ulster Premier division a coming together at Downpatrick will mark a change of tactics as the second half of the season unfolds. Wayne leads Tommy by a small margin - both are very capable and determined to win this championship. Bridesmaid four times last season, Wayne is yet to secure a title while Tommy is a multi-time Ulster champ.
Slow-starting GOMX/Russell's Motorcycles racer Mike Sinton is third in the title chase and will be there to pick up points as the race for the championship heats up.
The determination of AJ Elite Bathroom-supported rider Dave Gorman must not go unnoticed! The only two-stroke rider in the country to mix it at the front, Glenhead Engineering have done a magnificent job with Dave's machine enabling him to run top two at Seaforde before over-enthusiasm ended his challenge. All in all Dave is riding well and can't be ruled out on hard pack tracks - perhaps he is ready for another 450, what you say Jimbo?
Congratulations to James McFerran on winning a moto at the first ever ACU Mini Bike Championship round. In treacherous conditions the Castlewellan-based Monstermoto.co.uk racer won the first race of the series but a DNF in the second moto leaves him eighth after the first round.
As many of you will know, a cruel accident during a MCCNI event at Donamana has resulted in a very popular rider facing a difficult challenge. Chris Elser sustained a serious spinal injury and, in typical motocross fashion, everybody wants to help in whatever way they can. Over the next few months you will all get a chance to take part in a few events with the bottom line being to help Chris and his family concentrate on his rehabilitation.
From what I hear Chris is one determined young man and has surpassed the expectations of doctors so far. Not undermining the seriousness of the situation, we hope and pray for the strength you and your family need at this time. Where there is life there is always hope...